Messier 48

 Open Cluster

 In constellation Hydra

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M48 was discovered by Charles Messier in 1771 and

 consists of around 80 stars. It is located around 1,500

light years awayand measures 23 light years across.

M48 is estimated to be 300 million years old.

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RA 08^h 13^m 08.00^s

DEC -05° 48′ 00.0″

M48 has a magnitude (brightness) of 5.5

and its size is 54'.0

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Imaging Scope : Takahashi Epsilon 160

Focal Length = 530mm [image cropped to fit]

Imaging Camera : Canon EOS 350 DSLR

EQ6 Pro GEM Mount

Guide Scope : William Optics Megrez 80FD

Guide Camera : GSTAR-EX Video

Autoguided using GPSUB & Metaguide

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26 x 60 second exposures [26 mins] at ISO 1600.

Imaged 1/4 moon lit skies. Baldrine, Isle of Man,

British Isles. 19:55 on 24/02/2008.